1. Can you give the readers some background on yourself? How did you establish yourself as a bodybuilding pre-competition guru?
I started training when I was 19 years old by accident really and then I was instantly hooked! I entered my first competition after 12 weeks of training and hated being the centre of attention on stage! Lol. But I never let that put me off and surprisingly I came 3rd! I competed from junior class right up to the Mr. open class winning the WFBB Welsh Championships. In 2002 I won and received my IFBB pro card.
I have my own gym in Tenby, Wales which has built its reputation as a real hardcore dungeon. I married Angie In 1996 and have two gorgeous boys, Chad and Kurt.
I don't really know how I have established myself as a trainer/guru, other than the fact I have been very fortunate to work with so many hard working and disciplined athletes who have done very well. I am a very approachable sociable person and enjoy meeting people and like to talk more than the average female! But I can be quite shy when put under the spotlight.
2. Why did you choose bodybuilding primarily as a sport in which to offer your services?
In the beginning, I was always approached to help other athletes and I guess it snow balled from there. It was meant to be, as I had never consciously chose this path!
3. What motivated the transition from an IFBB Pro to training top amateur bodybuilders and even IFBB Pros?
I have always been an extremely competitive person who would thrive on challenges. When I had to retire due to an injury I felt lost and alone for a while and I cut myself off from bodybuilding. Then in 2003 I met James Flex Lewis, who gave myself a new lease of life. I saw instantly that he had a gift to achieve great things in this sport and it guided me in a different direction. I now see every one of my athletes as my new challenge and is why I get so personal and involved with them.
4. How did you develop the Yoda 3 Training program?
Through my competitive years of competing and training, I incurred injuries as most athletes do. It was clear to me then, that the training methods I was following did stimulate muscle growth but at the same time hamper growth due to injuries. So I knew I had to train in a smarter way to keep injury free. It took me many years to design the training principle Y3T, it's a training method that works.
5. A lot of popular training and diet "gurus" use "cookie cutter" routines with their athlete roster. Would you consider Y3T training "cookie cutter?"
Y3T is far from cookie cutter routines, in the same way as the training method HIT or DC training are not.
6. Who are some of your more notable clients?
James Flex Lewis, Shavis Higa, Lee Powell, Zack Khan, Lee Priest, James Llewelyn and Paul George. I help a lot of amateurs and as you know I am a very hands on trainer and I give them all 100% irrespective of their level in which they compete at.
7. What have been some highlight moments for you?
I have had an endless amount of highlights in my career so far! I would say being with Flex right from the beginning up to the present day, watching him grow from a naïve young man to a very successful pro is most definitely one of the best. I have built some really meaningful friendships with so many athletes and people involved in the sport, which I hold dear. Being associated with Gaspari Nutrition and M.D is just impossible to put into words.
8. We've heard you've actually had bodybuilders live you with the last few weeks of their contest prep so you can keep an eye on them. What's the importance of this?
When I work with my athletes I feel you have to connect as a team, its not just your knowledge on how to bring them into a show but its also how you guide them through life in general whilst their dieting for their shows. Being close to them in the last few weeks can have a big influence on how they feel in themselves, as they can relax mentally knowing that if any changes have to be made, I can make them instantly.
9. As a nutrition specialist, what can a client expect from you? What services do you offer?
I offer a wide selection of services from training and dietary advice for beginners to intermediate level and a fully comprehensive off season / contest prep for high level amateurs and pros. The importance of treating each client as an individual with their own genetic make – up is a big part of the service that I provide.
10. In your view, what have been some of bodybuilding's worst training and dietary trends? What are some of the biggest mistakes people tend to make when wanting to gain size and get cut?
As far as training is concerned, I feel the biggest mistake is most definitely lifting too heavy for prolonged periods or using poor form, resulting in greater risk of injury. As for bad dietary habits, I believe that athletes forget the most fundamental aspects of proper eating and that is balanced meals. Eating a variety of different food sources. For example, I have heard of a large number of athletes eating high fat, zero carb diets. There are some positive aspects in this approach but the human body was not designed to survive on such an inadequate balance of food. When someone is trying to gain size they tend to eat far too many calories than what is required or can be consumed thus resulting in fat storage. Cutting calories too quickly or introducing too much cardio too soon will result in muscle wastage. At first people will notice that they are loosing fats and not realize that they are also loosing muscle.
11. For success in bodybuilding, what is more important: training or diet? Why is this, in your view?
I know this goes against the grain but I feel they are just as important as each other! If you're not training and stimulating the muscle or your following poor dietary habits, you're not going to maximize the muscle to grow to its full capacity.
12. What do you enjoy most about working with champion bodybuilders? What qualities do they have that separate them from the average competitor?
I get the opportunities to travel to different countries and meet so many different people that would never have happened before. Which also means that I spend a lot more quality time getting to know my clients. The relentless drive and determination to be successful in what they are trying to achieve and it's their ability to keep pushing their own boundaries and keep reaching new goals.
13. In your opinion, what are some of the things about modern day bodybuilding that need to change for it to gain greater public acceptance?
I feel It's hard to change peoples opinions on bodybuilding when they know so little about the sport that the media has painted such a bad picture about. Yes, in the past there has been aspects of the sport that needed to change, which I feel has happened but if the right TV companies where willing to film real bodybuilders and not idiots in their documentaries then I believe that people would form a different opinion and have more respect for bodybuilding.
14. How far can people stretch their human capabilities to progress as bodybuilders? Will there ever be a limit to what the human body can achieve in terms of muscle size?
That's a question which will never really be answered. The ability of the human body to progress forward is immense but does muscle size mean a better way forward and a greater physique?
15. Do you have any plans on competing again?
I do still have the desire to compete again, my body responds very well when I'm eating and training properly, but the truth is, I really don't have the time to put into what would be needed to be competitive right now.